Machine for making and applying u-shaped carrying handles consisting of strips of paper or the like

ABSTRACT

A machine is provided for making U-shaped carrying handles consisting of strips of paper or the like and for applying these carrying handles to bags of paper or the like in such a manner that the central grip portions are disposed on the inside of the handle legs. The machine comprises two folding cylinders for respective sides of the bag, which cylinders are provided with grippers for gripping the strips of material adjacent to the portions intended to form central grip portions, creasing tools for creasing the strips at an angle of 45* at both ends of the portions intended to form the central grip portions, folding tools for folding the strip end portions upside down through 180* about the creases, and two handle-applying stations respectively associated with the folding cylinders. The tools of the creasing station are arranged to produce creases on the outside relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder. The width of the folding cylinder in the area where the handle legs are formed is smaller than the clear width between the creasing tools. The folding tools are caused to act from the outside on the strip end portions, which are folded inwardly relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Heinz Wesselmann Brochterbeck, Germany [21] App]. No. 846,453 [22] Filed July 31, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Windmoller & Holscher Westphalia, Germany [32] Priority Aug. 2, 1968 [3 3] Germany [31] P 17 61 992.0

[54] MACHINE FOR MAKING AND APPLYING U- SHAPED CARRYING HANDLES CONSISTING F STRIPS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE 16 Claims, Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 93/8 WA, 93/35 H, 156/443 [51] Int. Cl 1331b 1/86, 831d 1/06 [50] Field of Search 156/443; 93/8, H

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,625,862 1/1953 Boltenkroger et a1. 93/8 3,034,409 5/1962 Finke etal.

ABSTRACT: A machine is provided for making U-shaped carrying handles consisting of strips of paper or the like and for applying these carrying handles to bags of paper or the like in such a manner that the central grip portions are disposed on the inside of the handle legs. The machine comprises two folding cylinders for respective sides of the bag, which cylinders are provided with grippers for gripping the strips of material adjacent to the portions intended to form central grip portions, creasing tools for creasing the strips at an angle of at both ends of the portions intended to form the central grip portions, folding tools for folding the strip end portions upside down through 180 about the creases, and two handle-applying stations respectively associated with the folding cylinders. The tools of the creasing station are arranged to produce creases on the outside relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder. The width of the folding cylinder in the area where the handle legs are formed is smaller than the clear width between the creasing tools. The folding tools are caused to act from the outside on the strip and portions, which are folded inwardly relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder.

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' sum 6 OF 7 INVENTOR Heinz WESSELMANN MACHINE FOR MAKING AND APPLYING U-SHAPED CARRYING HANDLES CONSIS'IING F STRIPS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE This invention relates to a machine for making U-shaped carrying handles consisting of strips of paper or the like and for applying these carrying handles to bags of paper or the like in such a manner that the central grip portions are disposed on the inside of the handle legs, which machine comprises two folding cylinders for respective sides of the bag, which cylinders are provided with grippers for gripping the strips of material adjacent to the portions intended to form central grip portions, creasing tools for creasing the strips at an angle of 45 at both ends of the portions intended to form the central grip portions, folding tools for folding the strip end portions upside down through 180 about the creases and two handleapplying stations respectively associated with the folding cylinders.

The assignees of the present invention have already disclosed an apparatus for making and applying U-shaped carrying handles of paper or the like to bags (German Pat. 1,158,816). In the manufacture of the known U-shaped carrying handles, that apparatus serves to move a striplike blank parallel to the longitudinal axis of the folding cylinder to approach said cylinder. The strip is arrested in a predetermined position by braking tools and is subsequently engaged by pivoted needle tools and accelerated thereby in the direction of travel of the folding cylinder. When the strip has attained the surface velocity of the folding cylinder, the strip is engaged by grippers provided on the periphery of the folding cylinder. As the operation proceeds, the strip carried by the folding cylinder is provided in a creasing station with creases which extend at 45 and facilitate the subsequent folding of the strip end portions. The strip end portions are folded through 90 opposite to the direction of travel in a succeeding folding device, in which suitably disposed stationary tools are used to hold the strip end portions away from the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder. If the now-completed carrying handles would be applied from the folding cylinder directly to the leading end of a bag, the central grip portions would be disposed on the outside of the handle legs. It is known that the grip portions of U-shaped carrying handles tend to form reverse folds when loaded by the contents of the carrying bags. The load causes the central grip portions to fold toward the side of the legs. If the grip portions are disposed on the outside of the legs, the central grip portions lying one beside the other in the hand which has seized the handles tend to fold down one toward the other so that the central grip portions are deformed and wrinkled owing to the confined space so that they do not fit the hand. In order to avoid this disadvantage, the carrying handles are applied to the bag in such a manner that the central grip portions lie on the inside of the legs and fold outwardly so that they will not be disturbing. For this purpose, each folding cylinder in the above-mentioned known apparatus is succeeded by a reversing cylinder, which carries grippers for removing the carrying handle from the folding cylinder and for reversing it through 180 so that it can be applied to the leading end of the bag in such a manner that the central grip portions are disposed on 'the inside of the handle legs.

The known apparatus has the disadvantage that the U- shaped carrying handles which have been completed on the folding cylinder must be transferred to an additional reversing cylinder, which is provided with controlled grippers, only in order to ensure that the handles will be applied in such a manner that they will properly fit the hand. The need for that reversing cylinder for applying the carrying handles to the bag results in a relatively expensive machine.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a machine which enables a completion of the known U-shaped carrying handles and an application thereof in such a manner that they properly fit the hand without need for a reversing cylinder. This object is accomplished in that the tools of the creasing station are arranged to produce creases on the outside relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder, the width of the folding cylinder in the area where the handle legs are formed is smaller than the clear width between the creasing tools, and the folding tools are caused to act from the outside on the strip end portions, which are folded inwardly relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder. As a result, the legs lie on that side of the central grip portion which faces the folding cylinder and the completely folded carrying handles can be applied to the end of a bag in such a manner that the central grip portions facing away from the folding cylinder are disposed in the desired manner on the inside of the handle legs without need for a reversal of the handle.

In a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, stationary folding surfaces are provided laterally of the folding cylinders and have an increasing inward curvature toward the periphery of the cylinder in the direction of travel of the cylinder whereas the receiving portion of these folding surfaces is disposed outside of the path of travel of the creased strip end portions. In that embodiment the handle legs succeed the central grip portion and the handles are applied to the leading end of each bag. The folding station is succeeded by an adhesive-applying station, where revolving adhesive-applying segments cooperate with backing rollers, which are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder and rotate on stationary axes at the same surface velocity as the folding cylinder. lt is desirable to provide stationary metal guide strips, which are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder and serve to guide the handle legs between the adhesive-applying station and the handle-applying station. To ensure an exact application of the carrying handles, these guide strips guide the legs of the carrying handles in such a manner that these are exactly applied to the leading end of a bag in the succeeding handleapplying zone in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag.

To enable the simultaneous application of both carrying handles to a bag, it is desirable to provide two folding cylinders disposed one over the other and to provide two superimposed endless conveyor belts for carrying the bags through the handle-applying zone on each side of the handle-applying zone formed by the gap between the folding cylinders. These belts engage the bag only at its edge portions and move the central portion of the belt through the handle-applying zone. To ensure a proper guidance of the bags by means of the belts, which contact each other with their treads, the mutually contacting courses of the conveyor belts may be supported by metal guide strips. Rotating pressure rollers for pressing the leg end portions against the bags may be provided on both sides of each of the two folding cylinders, which pressure rollers are formed like segments to enable an unobstructed passage of the central grip portion, and ensure that the leg end portions will be adhered to the bags. Because the pressure rollers are formed like segments, the end portions of the central grip portion protruding laterally beyond the folding cylinder cannot be pulled from the periphery of the folding cylinder by the pressure rollers, which pulling would damage these end portions.

If the carrying handles are to be applied to the trailing end of the bag, a second embodiment of a machine according to the invention may be used for this purpose, in which folding elements for the strip end portions are provided on both sides of each folding cylinder and movable in the direction of travel of the folding cylinder at a velocity which is higher than the surface velocity of the folding cylinder, and the grippers for engaging the central portion of the strip have an opening which faces in the direction of travel of the folding cylinder. These folding elements effect a forward folding of the strip end portions so that the latter can be applied to the trailing end portion of a bag or web section. Because the central grip portions are also on that side of the handle legs which faces away from the folding cylinder, the carrying handle can be applied to the bag or web immediately after the carrying handle has been completely folded.

At the end of the folding elements, oblique deflecting rods for reliably engaging the creased strip end portions may be provided. According to the invention, the folding elements may consist of levers, which are pivoted to the folding cylinder and operated by stationary cams. In a development of the invention, the folding levers in their end position force the free strip end portions against folding jaws, which open in the handle-applying station. As a result, the carrying handles will be held at both ends until they are applied to the bar or web. Besides, revolving adhesive-applying segments may cooperate in the adhesive-applying station with the end faces of the folding levers to apply the required adhesive to the end portions of the handle legs.

In this embodiment of the machine according to the invention, each folding cylinder may be provided with knifelike creasing elements, which are pivotally movable to their operating position about axes which are substantially at right angles to the axis of the folding cylinder when the latter has received a strip and which have creasing edges, which in said operative position are disposed outside the ends of the folding cylinder and extend at an angle of 45 to the longitudinal direction of the strip and cooperate in said position with revolving knives. In the drawing:

FIG. I is a side elevation showing an apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is an elevation showing the apparatus of FIG. I viewed in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side elevations showing an apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention in two different operating positions;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view taken on line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevation taken in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 5 on a larger scale.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IX-IX in FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line X-X in FIG. 5.

Two similar apparatus according to the invention (FIG. 1), which are arranged with mirror symmetry, are required for a simultaneous application of two carrying handles to each bag. For the sake of clarity, only one of these apparatus, namely, the top one, will be described.

The striplike carrying handle blank 1 (FIG. 1) is moved parallel to the longitudinal axis of the folding cylinder and is arrested in a ready position near the folding cylinder 2 by a clamping device, not shown. Needles 4 numbering, e.g., three and secured to pivoted levers 3 pierce the arrested strip 1 and move the latter to the folding cylinder 2. The pivotal movement of the levers 3 to cause the needles 4 first to pierce the strip 1 and then to move out of the same is controlled by a cam 5, a roller 6 and a second lever 7 and is performed about the pivot 8. The pivot 8 is carried by third levers 9, which perform an oscillating pivotal motion in the direction of the double arrow 10 under the action of another lever, which is cam controlled and not shown. The forward movement of the levers 9 toward the folding cylinder 2 causes the strip 1 to be transferred onto that cylinder, where the strip is gripped by a gripper 11 or 12. Each of the grippers 11 and 12 s pivoted on a pin 13 or 14. The grippers 11 and 12 are moved by levers 16 and 17 carrying rollers 18 and 19 riding on a stationary cam 15.

The strip 1' is held by the gripper, e.g., 11, which engages the central strip portion and is moved into a creasing station, which consists of two rotating grooved tools 20 and two registering, also rotating knife tools 21. In the creasing station, the strip 1' is provided with two creases, which extend at 45 and define the subsequent folding operations. The gripping width of the above-mentioned grippers l1 and 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) corresponds to the clear width between legs of the complete carrying handle 22 (FIG. 2). The folding cylinder 2 has the same width. This is essential to enable the use of a folding device (FIG. 1) which succeeds the creasing station and serves to move the lateral end portions 23 and 24 of the creased strip into the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder and to fold them through to extend opposite to the direction of travel 26 of the folding cylinder. The folding device 25 consists of two spirally curved, stationary plates, which are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder 2 in such a manner that they embrace the strip end portions 23 and 24 (FIG. 2) and fold them in the described direction. Before being folded, the strip end portions 23 and 24 are slightly angled because they have been creased.

The folding device 25 (FIG. 1) is succeeded by an adhesiveapplying device 27, which by means of a dip roller 29 removes adhesive 28 from the container 30 and delivers the adhesive to the peripheral surfaces of two applying segments 31, which transfer the adhesive to the leg end portions 23 and 24', which succeed the central grip portion 32 (FIG. 2) in the direction of travel 26 of the folding cylinder. To support the leg end portions 23' and 24' which are to receive the adhesive, two pressure rollers 33 and 34 are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder 2 in a manner which is not shown in detail and rotate at the same velocity as the folding cylinder and cooperate with the adhesive-applying members 31 (FIG. I).

The leg end portions 23' and 24', which succeed the central grip portion 32 (FIG. 2) in the direction of travel, hang freely when provided with adhesive. To enable an exact application of the carrying handles to the bag, metal guide strips 36 are provided laterally of the folding cylinder 2 immediately before the handle-applying zone 35 (FIG. 1) and guide the handle legs in such a manner that the same are held parallel to the direction of travel. As is apparent from FIG. 1, two similar apparatus are disposed one over the other for a simultaneous application of two carrying handles. The handle-applying zone is formed by the zone in which the two folding cylinders 2 and 37 approach each other but for a gap. Conveyor belts 38 and 39 (FIG. I) having contacting treads are provided on each side of the handle-applying zone and engage respective edges portions of the bag so that the free central portion of the bag is moved through the handle-applying zone 35 (FIG. I). To support the conveyor belts 38 or 39 extending over the rollers 40 to 43 and 44 to 47, respectively, the treads of these belts are moved in contact with a metal guide strip 48, which is interrupted in the handle-applying zone 35 so that the bag moves in the desired manner through the handle-applying zone. To ensure that the grippers l2 and 49 and 11 and 49' carried by the folding cylinders 2 and 37 can move properly through the gap, the axes of the folding cylinders are spaced so that the gap is sufficiently large in the zone of contact. To enable the application of the carrying handle to the leading end of a bag which has been moved through the above-described gap, pressure rollers 50 and 51 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which rotate at the surface speed of the folding cylinder, are provided on each side of the folding cylinder adjacent to the handle-applying zone 35. The arrangement of the pressure rollers 50 and 51 is such that the rollers of each pair have mutually contacting peripheries so that the leg end portions succeeding in the direction of travel are forced against the bag walls. To ensure that the end portions 52 and 53 of the central grip portion (FIG. 2), which laterally protrude from the folding cylinder, will not be pulled out from the plane of the periphery of the folding cylinder by the pressure rollers 50 and 51 as these end portions pass through the handle-applying zone 35 (FIG. 1), these rollers 50 and 51 are formed like segments so that the portion 54 or 55, respectively, of each pressure roller 50 or 51, respectively, which portion is small in diameter, permits of a satisfactory movement of the central grip portion through the handle-applying zone. Immediately thereafter, the protruding portions 56 and 57 of the pressure rollers 50 and 51 are operative to force the adhesive-carrying portions of the handle legs in the desired manner onto the bag. Immediately after the action of the protruding portions of the pressure rollers has been initiated, the grippers carried by the folding cylinders 2 and 37, e.g., the grippers l2 and 49, are opened so that the handles are now guided only by the pressure rollers 50 and 51. Immediately before the pressure rollers 50 and 51 cease to act on the leg end portions, the leading grip portion enters the range of action of pressure belts 60, which succeed the handle-applying zone and move over rollers 58 and 59 and cooperate with the metal guide strip 48 to force the moving carrying handles against the bag. The carrying bag (FIG. 3) has now been completed and is moved in known manner to a delivery station. When two carrying handles are to be applied to the trail ing end of a bag or tube section at the same time in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, two similar apparatus are also required. For the sake of simplicity, only the upper apparatus of that kind is shown in FIGS. 4 to and will be described hereinafter.

Just as in the first embodiment, the striplike carrying handle blank 62 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is supplied in known manner to the folding cylinder 65 by means of a feeder 64 provided with needles 63. The folding cylinder 65 consists substantially of two carriers 67 and 68 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6), which are carried by a common shaft 66 defining the axis of rotation of the folding cylinder 65. These carriers 67 and 68 are held against axial displacement by set collars 67' and 68. The carrying member 67 is held by a feather key 69 (FIG. 6) against rotation on the shaft 66 and at its ends is provided with diametrically opposite grippers 70 and 71 (FIGS. 4 and 5), which are secured to the carrying member 67 by means of bearing brackets 72 and 73 and cooperate each with a jaw 74 or 75, respectively, which is secured to bearing brackets 72 or 73, respectively. Each gripper is formed by a plate 76 or 77 (FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 10), respectively, which is secured by small brackets 78 or 79, respectively, to a shaft 80 or 81, respectively. Tension springs 70 and 71' are provided to hold the grippers 70 and 7.1 in their closed position unless the grippers are actuated. One end of a lever 82 or 83, respectively, is secured to the shaft 80 or 81, respectively, and has secured to its free end a pin 84 or 85, respectively, on which a roller 86 or 87, respectively, is rotatably mounted. The rollers 86 and 87 ride on a stationary cam 88, which-is shaped so that the gripper 70 or 71, respectively is pivotally moved about the shaft 80 or 81, respectively, which is rotatably mounted at both ends in the bearing brackets 72 or 73, respectively. The gripper plates 76 and 77 and the fixed jaws 74 and 75 cooperating with the grippers have a width which is equal to the clear width a (FIG. 7) of the carrying handle to enable a making of the carrying handles without obstruction. The grippers 70 and 71 (FIGS. 4 and 5) are arranged so that the opening of the gripper faces the direction of travel 89 of the folding cylinder, viewed from the pivot of the gripper.

Pivoted pairs of creasing elements 90 and 91 (FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 9) are also carried by the carrying member 67 adjacent to the jaws 74 and 75. The two pairs of creasing elements 90 and 91 consists of pairs of levers 92 or 93, which at their inner ends carry respective plates 94 or 95, which in their operating position enable an exact creasing of the strip 62 exactly at 45. The operating positions are shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 7 the designated 93' and 95'. The other ends of the pairs of levers are secured each to two shafts 96, 97 or 98, 99, respectively, about which the creasing elements are pivotally movable. The pairs of pivots for the two creasing elements 90 and 91 are at right angles to the axis of rotation of the folding cylinder. Bearing brackets 72 and 73 are again provided for the shafts 96, 97 and 98, 99 (FIGS. 7 and 9), respectively, and for this purpose are provided each with two bores. Each bore has two liners 100 to ensure a satisfactory mounting of the shafts 96, 97 and 98, 99, respectively. Each of the shafts 96, 97, 98, 99 is provided at its free end with one of gears 101- 104. The diameters of the gears 101, 102 and 103, 104, respectively, are selected so that the gears mesh in pairs. The gears 101 and 103 are much smaller in width than the gears 102 and 104 so that a rack 105 or 106 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 9), respectively, can mesh with the wider gear 102 or 104, respectively, adjacent to the exposed width portion of the tooth and a simultaneous common pivotal movement of the two tools of each pair of creasing elements 90 or 91, respectively, is thus ensured. Each of the racks and 106 is guided in the longitudinal and lateral directions by two rollers 107, 108 or 109, 110, respectively. The roller 107 or 110, respectively, rolls in the groove 111 or 112, respectively, formed in the rack 105 or 106, respectively. Movement is imparted to the racks 105 and 106 and to the pairs of creasing elements 90 and 91 by a stationary cam 113 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6), and rollers 116 and 117, respectively, which ride on the cam 113 and are carried by levers 114 and 115, respectively, to which the movement of the respective rollers is transmitted. The other end of the lever 114 or 115, respectively, is secured to one end of a shaft 118 or 119, respectively, which is rotatably mounted in the carrying member 67. One end of another lever 120 or 121 is secured to the other end of the shaft 118 or 119 and has a forked free end, which receives a roller 122 or 123, respectively, which is secured to the side of the rack 105 or 106, respectively.

The carrying member 68 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 66 is secured to the carrying member 67 by a screw 124 (FIG. 6). To enable a relative adjustment of the two carrying members 67 and 68 in the peripheral direction 89 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in adaptation to carrying handles having different lengths, the carrying member 67 (FIG. 6) is formed with slots 125, which permit of a relative adjustment when the screws 124 have been loosened so that the carrying member 68 can be rotated in a predetermined range. Two diametrically opposite shafts 126 and 127 are rotatably mounted in the carrying member 68 close to the shaft 66 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6), and the levers 128, 129 and 130, 131, respectively, are secured to the ends of said shafts. The exposed ends of the levers 128 to 131 consist of folding segments 132 to 135, which serve to effect a forward folding of the lateral strip end portions in the direction of travel 89. The levers 128, 129 and 130, 131 perform a pivotal movement during the rotation of the folding cylinder so that the folding segments 132, 133 and 134, 135 perform a corresponding movement relative to the folding cylinder 65. This movement is derived from a stationary cam 136 by a roller 137 or 138, respectively, which is secured to one end of a double lever 139 or 140, respectively. The double lever 139 or 140, respectively, is rotatably mounted on a pin 141 or 142, respectively, which is screw-threaded to the carrying member 68. The double lever 139 or consists at its other end of a gear segment, which is in mesh with a gear 143 or 144, respectively, that is secured to the shaft 126 or 127, respectively. When the double lever 139 or 140, respectively, performs a pivotal movement under the action of the earn 136, the gear 143 or 144, respectively, causes a rotation of the shaft 126 or 127, which imparts the desired pivotal movement of the levers 128, 129 or 130, 131, respectively, which are secured to that shaft.

Adjacent to the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder, the carrying member 68 carries two diametrically opposite folding jaws 145 and 146 (FIGS. 4 to 8), which form respective grippers with the folding segments 132, 133 or 134, 135, which are movable in the direction of travel 89. The jaws 145 and 146 are designed to precede the associated pivoted folding segments in the direction of travel. Each jaw 145 and 146 is secured to one end of bellcrank levers 147, 148 or 149, 150, respectively, which are secured on respective sides of the carrying member 68 to a common shaft 151 or 152, which is mounted in the carrying member 68. The jaw 145 or 146 is operated by means of a stationary cam I53, and a roller 154 or 155, respectively, which rides on the cam 153 and is rotatably mounted on a pin 156 .or 157, respectively, which transmits the movement of the roller to the jaw 145 or 146, to which the pin is screw-threaded. To ensure that the jaws 145 and 146 remain in their closed position when they are not operated, a compression spring 158 or 159 is interposed between the jaw 145 or 146, respectively, and a sleeve 160 or 161, respectively, which is screw-threaded to the carrying member 68. The closed position of each jaw is adjustable by a stop screw 164 or 165, respectively, which is carried by the bellcrank lever 147 or 149, respectively, at the free end thereof and bears on a sleeve 162 or 163, respectively, which is screw-threaded to the carrying member 68.

The strip 62 which is moved by the feeder 64 (FIG. 4) to the folding cylinder 65 is gripped, e.g., by the gripper 70 and is moved by it in the direction of travel 89. Shortly after the strip has been received, the creasing elements 90 are operated under the control of the cam 113 to move to their operating position (FIGS. 5 and 7), in which the creasing elements 90 are disposed under the strip 62' and cooperate with the knives 167 rotating about an axis 166 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the folding cylinder to produce at the ends of the central portion of the strip the creases which extend at 45 and about which the strip is subsequently folded. When the creases have been formed, the creasing elements 90 and 91 return to their initial position so that they will not prevent a subsequent delivery of the complete carrying handles.

Immediately after moving through the creasing zone, the folding segments 132, 133 are moved relative to the folding cylinder 65 in the direction of travel 89 under the control of the cam 136. To enable a satisfactory gripping of the strip end portions, which hang laterally after the strip has been creased the leading ends of the folding segments 132, 133 or 134, 135, respectively, are provided with deflecting rods 168 (FIG. 7), which during the movement of the folding segments 132, 133, or 134, 135 (FIG. 5), respectively, move the strip end portions into the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder. When the strip end portions have thus been moved into the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder, they are folded forwardly about 90 in the direction of travel by the folding segments 132 and 133 as the latter continue to move. The folding segments 132 and 133 move as far as to the jaw 145 and together with the latter form a folding gripper, which now retains the leg end portions 169 (FIGS. 5 and 7). To ensure To the leg end portions can be reliably gripped by the folding gripper consisting of the folding parts 132 and 133 and the jaw 145, and to prevent a movement of said leg end portions from the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder by centrifugal force, the creasing zone is succeeded by metal guide strips 179 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 8), which are suitably arranged. The closed position of the folding segments 132, 133 or 134, 135, respectively, is adjustable by a stop screw 172 or 173, respectively, carried by the lever 128 or 130, respectively, and engageable by the bushing 160 and 161, respectively. Outside the range of action of the cam 136, the folding segments 132, 133 or 134, 135, respectively, are held in their closed position by a tension spring 176 or 177, respectively, which are secured to the double lever 139 or 140 and to the pin 174 or 175, respectively. As the leg end portions 169 continue to move, they pass by an adhesive applicator, not shown, where adhesive is applied to them by rotating adhesive-applying segments 171. The back pressure which is required for the application of the adhesive is produced by the peripheral surfaces of the folding segments 132, 133 or 134, 135 (FIG. 5), respectively. When the handleapplying zone is reached, the respective jaw 145 or 146, is opened so that the adhesive-bearing portions of the legs can be applied to a tube section or finished bag at the end which succeeds in the direction of travel. The gripper 70 or 71 is also opened under the action of the cam 88 as the gripper passes through the handle-applying zone so that the central grip portion 178 (FIG. 7) is also released. When the bag or tube section, not shown, has been provided with carrying handles it is conveyed further by means not shown. When the folding segments 132, 133 or 134, 135, respectively, have moved through the handle-applying zone, they are swung back to their initial position under the control of the cam 136 and can be operated once more when another strip 62 has been creased. When the jaw 145 or 146, respectively, has passed through the handleapplying zone, it swings back to its closed position whereas the gripper 70 or 71, respectively, remains opened until it receives a new strip.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for making U-shaped carrying handles consisting of strips of paper or the like and for applying these carrying handles to bags of paper or the like in such a manner that the central grip portions are disposed on the inside of the handle legs, which machine comprises two folding cylinders for respective sides of the bag, which cylinders are provided with grippers for gripping the strips of material adjacent to the portions intended to form central grip portions creasing tools for creasing the strips at an angle of 45 at both ends of the portions intended to form the central grip portions, folding tools for folding the strip end portions upside down through 180 about the creases and two handle-applying stations respectively associated with the folding cylinders, characterized in that the tools of the creasing station are arranged to produce creases on the outside relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder, the width of the folding cylinder in the area where the handle legs are formed is smaller than the clear width between the creasing tools, and the folding tools are caused to act from the outside on the strip end portions, which are folded inwardly relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder.

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that stationary folding surfaces are provided laterally of the folding cylinders and have an increasing inward curvature toward the periphery of the cylinder in the direction of travel of the cylinder whereas the receiving portion of these folding surfaces is disposed outside of the path of travel of the creased strip end portions.

3. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding station is succeeded by an adhesive-applying station, where revolving adhesive-applying segments cooperate with backing rollers, which are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder and rotate on stationary axes at the same surface velocity as the folding cylinder.

4. A machine according to claim 3, characterized in that stationary metal guide strips are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder and serve to guide the handle legs between the adhesive-applying station and the handle-applying station.

5. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that two folding cylinders are disposed one over the other and two superimposed conveyor belts are provided to carry the bags through the handle-applying zone on each side of the handleapplying zone formed by the gap between the folding cylinders.

6. A machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the mutually contacting courses of the conveyor belts are supported by metal guide strips.

7. A machine according to claim 5, characterized in that rotating pressure rollers for pressing the leg end portions against the bags are provided on both sides of each of the two folding cylinders, which pressure rollers are formed like segments to enable a unobstructed passage of the central grip portion.

8. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that folding elements for the strip end portions are provided on both sides of each folding cylinder and movable in the direction of travel of the folding cylinder at a velocity which is higher than the surface velocity of the folding cylinder, and the grippers for engaging the central portion of the strip have an opening which faces in the direction of travel of the folding cylinder.

9. A machine according to claim 8, characterized in that oblique deflecting rods are provided at the leading end of the folding elements for reliably engaging the creased strip end portions.

10. A machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the folding elements consists of levers, which are pivoted to the folding cylinder.

11. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the folding elements are operated by stationary earns.

12. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the folding levers in their end position force the free strip end portions against folding jaws, which open in the handle-applying station.

13. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that revolving adhesive-applying segments cooperate in the adhesive applying station with the end faces of the folding levers.

14. A machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the distance between the grippers for gripping the central grip portion from the folding jaws for retaining the strip end portions is variable.

15. A machine according to claim 14, characterized in that the closed position of the folding jaws which cooperate with the folding elements is adjustable. 

1. A machine for making U-shaped carrying handles consisting of strips of paper or the like and for applying these carrying handles to bags of paper or the like in such a manner that the central grip portions are disposed on the inside of the handle legs, which machine comprises two folding cylinders for respective sides of the bag, which cylinders are provided with grippers for gripping the strips of material adjacent to the portions intended to form central grip portions creasing tools for creasing the strips at an angle of 45* at both ends of the portions intended to form the central grip portions, folding tools for folding the strip end portions upside down through 180* about the creases and two handle-applying stations respectively associated with the folding cylinders, characterized in that the tools of the creasing station are arranged to produce creases on the outside relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder, the width of the folding cylinder in the area where the handle legs are formed is smaller than the clear width between the creasing tools, and the folding tools are caused to act from the outside on the strip end portions, which are folded inwardly relative to the periphery of the folding cylinder.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that stationary folding surfaces are provided laterally of the folding cylinders and have an increasing inward curvature toward the periphery of the cylinder in the direction of travel of the cylinder whereas the receiving portion of these folding surfaces is disposed outside of the path of travel of the creased strip end portions.
 3. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding station is succeeded by an adhesive-applying station, where revolving adhesive-applying segments cooperate with backing rollers, which are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder and rotate on stationary axes at the same surface velocity as the folding cylinder.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, characterized in that stationary metal guide strips are disposed laterally of the folding cylinder and serve to guide the handle legs between the adhesive-applying station and the handle-applying station.
 5. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that two folding cylinders are disposed one over the other and two superimposed conveyor belts are provided to carry the bags through the handle-applying zone on each side of the handle-applying zone formed by the gap between the folding cylinders.
 6. A machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the mutually contacting courses of the conveyor belts are supported by metal guide strips.
 7. A machine according to claim 5, characterized in that rotating pressure rollers for pressing the leg end portions against the bags are provided on both sides of each of the two folding cylinders, which pressure rollers are formed like segments to enable a unobstructed passage of the central grip portion.
 8. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that folding elements for the strip end portions are provided on both sides of each folding cylinder and movable in the direction of travel of the folding cylinder at a velocity which is higher than the surface velocity of the folding cylinder, and the grippers for engaging the central portion of the strip have an opening which faces in the direction of travel of the folding cylinder.
 9. A machine according to claim 8, characterized in that oblique deflecting rods are provided at the leading end of the folding elements for reliably engaging the creased strip end portions.
 10. A machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the folding elements consists of levers, which are pivoted to the folding cylinder.
 11. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the folding eLements are operated by stationary cams.
 12. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the folding levers in their end position force the free strip end portions against folding jaws, which open in the handle-applying station.
 13. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that revolving adhesive-applying segments cooperate in the adhesive applying station with the end faces of the folding levers.
 14. A machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the distance between the grippers for gripping the central grip portion from the folding jaws for retaining the strip end portions is variable.
 15. A machine according to claim 14, characterized in that the closed position of the folding jaws which cooperate with the folding elements is adjustable.
 16. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each folding cylinder is provided with knifelike creasing elements, which are pivotally movable to their operating position about axes which are substantially at right angles to the axis of the folding cylinder when the latter has received a strip and which have creasing edges, which in said operative position are disposed outside the ends of the folding cylinder and extend at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal direction of the strip and cooperate in said position with revolving knives. 